The lush countryside of central France’s Corrèze department is home to the Limousin mountains. Here you will find the Massif des Monédières, dotted with streams and waterfalls, alongside Natura 2000-designated moorlands.
It is among this stunning landscape that Hayley Gibbon, 46, and her husband Mike, 56, set up Le Ranch, a camping and glamping business in the village of Madranges.
The couple used to live in Essex, England, where Hayley worked as a graphic designer and Mike worked in print and design.
They had long considered relocating to France as Hayley’s parents already lived there. However, it was the Brexit referendum that finally galvanised them into action, and they made the move in 2019.
Hayley and Mike won the Prix ACSI 2026 for the Most Beautiful Little Campsite in France (Plus Beau Petit Camping de France)Le Ranch-Campsite
As well as moving to another country, they also transitioned to a totally new career.
“We bought a property that already had a basic campsite in place,” said Hayley. “At first, I thought I might continue working on graphic design projects but so far I have not done that.”
Running a seasonal business means there is little time between spring and autumn for anything except focusing on the work in hand.
“We can welcome a maximum of 20 guests, and during the season the day is non-stop,” said Hayley.
“We have 2.8 hectares of land, including a main field and a secluded wild meadow. There is also a swimming pool, two camping pitches, plus four glamping options – three of which have hot tubs.”
From May to September, a typical day starts with breakfast preparation, before moving on to checking facilities, handling departures and arrivals, and cleaning the four glamping tents.
There is also the paperwork to deal with, such as responding to enquiries and reservations, alongside ordering supplies, receiving deliveries and organising food hygiene paperwork for events such as pizza nights.
“Out of season we spend our time on land management and repairs, marketing, bookkeeping, reservations, information requests, and updating our online system,” said Hayley.
“It’s a relatively short season from May to September, so it’s very intense during those months, but the pay-off is that we can enjoy a quieter winter.”
Setting up as a micro-entrepreneur
When Hayley took on the campsite, she set herself up as a micro-entrepreneur or sole trader.
“I chose that as my business structure because of the simplicity,” she said.
There is an on-site swimming pool for campers to enjoyLe Ranch-Campsite
Running a campsite as a sole trader
As Hayley’s model shows, it is possible to run a campsite like Le Ranch in France as a sole trader (micro-entreprise). This is a simple business model in terms of administration, but does have certain restrictions.
A campsite is classed as a ‘fourniture de logement’ (accommodation provider). If your annual turnover exceeds €188,700 for two consecutive years, you must move out of the micro-entreprise regime. You will also need to charge and pay VAT if your turnover exceeds €91,900 for two consecutive years, or immediately if it surpasses €101,000.
“Setting it up was quite straightforward; it did not take us long. I used the same accountant as my dad and he was very helpful.
“If you are a micro-entrepreneur you can do your own accounts, which keeps everything simple, but the downside is that there is a flat-rate allowance for running costs. It means that even though we spend a lot of money, we cannot really claim back many business expenses.
“It would be possible to do that if we changed to a different business structure, but we are not quite making a high enough turnover to warrant that just yet.”
Being a British business owner in France
Hayley is the first to admit that her French was very basic when they first arrived.
“I was learning the language as a small child would learn to speak,” she said.
Her dyslexia added a layer of complexity, but over time her communications skills have improved, especially her business vocabulary.
“These days, I am able to have conversations with guests and deal with suppliers in French.
“My French is not correct but I make myself understood!
“Mike’s French has always been better – he loves language and he has a much better understanding of the grammar.”
Both say that being British often has advantages in their industry.
“We have a lot of Dutch clients and some British visitors, Flemish-speaking Belgians and Germans – lots of visitors who feel more comfortable speaking English than French,” said Hayley.
“Some of our European guests are relieved when they hear an English accent!”
For readers who are considering running a campsite in France, Hayley’s experience offers some insights.
“I would say, make sure you have some funds behind you, because a campsite needs a lot of maintenance,” she said.
“You also need a good website with a system that enables people to book directly online, so you can automate the process as much as possible without losing the personal touch.
“Finally, try out the facilities and accommodation regularly and stay true to your vision: we made a campsite that we would want to stay in ourselves.”
